That arm isn't wet, it's just that dirty. I know it's gross, don't judge me.
I'd tried to clean them many times, but to no avail. Until I found the answer on pinterest! Robin from Chris and Robin's Nest shared her technique for cleaning microfiber sofas, and friends, it works.
Here's what my sofas look like now:
And by sofas, I mean that one arm of one sofa. Because about 3 minutes into me focusing half my attention on something other than the children, pandemonium erupted. Wild pantless pandemonium.
Here's what my sponge looked like after just that one arm of the sofa. Can you say yuck?
Here's the before/after comparison that is going to make you all run over to Robin's blog and find out how to do it:
Thanks for stopping by The Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking. Emphasis on the imperfect part.
Awesome! Now I need to get a mircofibre couch!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that it works!! This is high on my to-do list because my couches look just like yours...and I don't even have 5 kids...so there is no judging here! You have inspired me to get out the sponge and start scrubbing! It will be like getting brand new couches :D
ReplyDeletejust make sure you do it is a ventilated area. pheww it smells us the house really bad
DeleteWow! Thanks so much for posting this. I was going to hire someone to clean ours. Now I will do it myself!
ReplyDeleteEXACTLY what I needed!
ReplyDelete(P.S. I recently ran into your blog and am in love with your 31 days series!! :)
I found this link a couple of weeks ago and tried it on my couch too. It was definitely cleaner than before but not as much as I was expecting. I probably should have spent a little more time scrubbing, but nonetheless I was DISGUSTED by the amount of stuff I was able to remove. I will definitely be giving it another go round.
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog because of your homemade dryer balls on Pinterest, and I am loving reading all your posts!
ReplyDeleteCute picture (of your kids)! That is amazing, and I wish I'd read this before we got rid of our microfiber sofa (I ruined it, cleaning with water). Found you on 31 days and loving your blog! :)
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to thank you for this post. I own a whole living room full of micro fiber furniture that has definitely seen better days. We have 3 dogs,kids,grandbabies, and a LOT of commotion. Believe me people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. LOL I will be definitely be testing out this technique and hope it is as successful for me as it has been for you. Btw: So glad to find your blog, and will be following along:) Amy.
ReplyDeleteYES! I'm glad you posted this. I've had issues with my microfiber couch feeling grimy (although it didn't look dirty). I will give this a try. I remember calling Raymour & Flanagan in regards to my couch feeling grimy and instead of showing me how to fix it, they sent a technician out to order new cushions.
ReplyDeleteJodi @ Make Three
http://makethree.blogspot.com
No Joke! My couches look EXACTLY like that! Its as if you posted pics of MY couches! LoL! I have 3 children, 2 small dogs and a husband! I am trying this TOMORROW! Thanks a million!
ReplyDeleteBRILLIANT!! THANK YOU!
ReplyDeleteIt won't show up on their blog, it's just a blank page :( Can anyone tell me how to do this? Between my husband and son, my couch is in NEED!!
ReplyDeleteI just checked, and the link above seems to work fine, and the blog (with instructions) loaded great. Maybe you could try again? I purposely didn't give the instructions here because the blog author deserves the credit and the website traffic for figuring this out!
DeleteThanks for having the guts to post your pictures! I have 7 kids (mostly grown), 3 dogs, 5 cats and a score of chickens and ducks, and thought I was the only one who had furniture that looked like that. I homeschool my youngest and wouldn't exchange that for an immaculate house! Thanks again for the great advice--going to her blog now!
DeleteGirrrrrrlllll.... If this works!! I can't wait for MY 5 kids to wake up so I can turn on the vacuum and start cleaning my husband's chair! It's literally ARM TO ARM as dirty as the WORST spot on your corner was... I've used water 1,000 times. OBVIOUSLY, to no avail. P.S. Love your blog, you are as creative out loud as I am in my head. My youngest is 8 months old, and it's about time I started getting myself together. ;)
ReplyDeleteI get a blank page as well. :(
ReplyDeleteThe page opens up, then about 10 seconds later it goes blank...i NEED this formula!!!
ReplyDeletehaving the same issue....blank page and in need of the secret formula ;-) I remember reading it a month ago, but dind't need it then, but now I do...
ReplyDeletePlease let me know how to do this...page will not load for me either :(
ReplyDeleteI just tried both of the links in the post above using firefox, Internet Explorer and Google Chrome and it loaded fine in all 3 browsers. I wish I knew why it isn't working for some of you :( Maybe try going to http://chrisandrobinsnest.blogspot.com/ and entering "microfiber" in the search bar to the right. I hope that helps :)
DeleteI just found you the through Pinterest! I also tried the link above with no luck. I opened a new window in Internet Explorer and typed in the link (www.chrisandrobinsnest.blogspot.com). Once I was on the site I clicked the "cleaning" tab to the right and got to the microfiber blog. I hope this helps!
ReplyDeleteSo close, yet so far. I can get the page to load, but I cannot scroll past the first three quarters of the picture. I really need this solution to clean my microfiber couch. Very frustrated at this point. Been trying for several hours (off and on).
ReplyDeleteuse GOOGLE CHROME. Wouldn't open in internet explorer for me either, but google chrome worked!!!
ReplyDeleteMine look worse than that ... I'm running over to find out how it's done, oh yes I am!
ReplyDeleteMy wife uses the steam cleaner to rinse the microfiber couch(with plain water) and that makes it look like new.
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog today.........and I am SO excited!! I am a mother of 5 and our house is CRAZY unorganized. But I am really excited about this post my couch looks like that! UGH! It was HORRID to live through the holidays with it. I can NOT wait to clean it. *does a dance* I hope it works!!!!
ReplyDeleteOh My God!!! I have the same color microfibre couches and they looke so gross, and I am trying to sell my house! Found this on Pinterest, thanks :) :) :)
ReplyDeleteNewest follower here, courtesy of Pinterest (dontcha love Pinterest?) I am following because I'm also a homemaker, love simplicity and the color... cobalt blue, but teal too!
ReplyDeleteI gotta do this! Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks For the Information.Very Good steps on how to clean a Microfiber Sofa.
ReplyDeleteOMG I can't wait to try this! We have a microfiber sofa and loveseat in the same color... and a blended family with 7 children, 2 dogs and 2 cats... and a pellet stove in the living room that blows soot all winter. My light berber carpet and furniture look disgusting right now!!! Last spring I put bleach in our rug doctor and went to town. It worked great but it definitely takes a toll on the material. The carpet got it so much that the materials are weakening. Of course, I'd like to complain but I'd love it if we HAD to replace it with hard wood floor :) Anyway... we have a first communion in less than two weeks and I will be trying this little trick on our nasty couches! Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteAlso, not to self promote too much but Norwex paste with an enviro rag does WONDERS! It is enzyme based, so chemical free and can be used on your entire house but it truly does clean up your micro fiber sofas. My hubs never believed me when I told him about the stains till one time I let him see a weeks damage on our couch and then I used the paste and rag and it was new again :)
ReplyDeleteScope it if you are interested in a chemical free way to clean your home :) clerissalewis.norwex.biz
I just did this and it worked! thanx!
ReplyDeleteJust tried this. My sofa is olive green. I didn't have any big stains, just some water marks and drool from the dog. I still have the water marks. Unfortunately, my cushions are attached, so I can't throw them in the wash. I 'm gonna try one more treatment, and if it doesn't look any better, I'll probably try my steam cleaner.
ReplyDeleteHow long does it last? I have used a stem cleaner before and it seems that within a few days, I am back to the "old" look of it. Also, if Karen (the post before me) sees this, my carpet guy told me there was a difference between spots and stains. One he can get out, the other he couldn't. I forget his technical explanation, but it might apply to the water issues.
ReplyDeleteMicrofiber starts to have a "leathery effect" after it's used for awhile. The fibers start to wear off and the material becomes dark spots - it's not always dirt. Hope it helps on that, too. It's worth a try.
ReplyDeleteI found this on Pinterest (yay) and tried it on my microfiber shoes. And it worked!
ReplyDeleteI talk about it here: http://piesandpuggles.blogspot.com/2012/07/dirty-scuffed-shoes-no-more.html.
Thanks so much!
Just did this today. Worked like a charm! Thank you!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is great. I'm going to try this,thanks ! I wonder how rubbing alcohol would work on carpet stains?
ReplyDeleteI am so impressed. I found this on Pinterest, tried it and I have new looking furniture. We have four kids and the youngest just about destroyed ours. I have been furniture shopping for several months and now I can stop. Thank you so much for posting this. My husband says Thank you for saving his wallet. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting this. I have 2 rooms filled with microfiber furniture. I have covered them up with pretty blankets for a couple of years. It is nice to have my furniture back! Also of note I started this 2 days ago and in the meantime we got pine sap on a loveseat. I looked online to see how to remove and they recommended rubbing alcohol. I laughed...just treated it...sure enough it came right off! Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteI tried this on my dark microfiber sectional that is getting nasty. No kids to blame, no dogs, my cats lay on it but they didn't make it filthly. I am mostly to blame, I tend to sleep in my recliner and were my head lays is yuck to look at, guess I have some greasy hair, but the same goes for my fiance on the other end where he sits and lays back in his recliner. The love seat looks great. I tried the alcohol trick on mine, which sad to say is just about 3 years old...I tend to spill alot, we eat in the living room, so I am always dropping food, etc...yes, I am a big slob. But, my sectional is very dark brown microfiber and to tell you the truth, I think my sectional is more of a leathery looking microfiber...I did try this on mine, didn't really try that hard, just got mad that it wasn't doing anything right away. I had read on Robin's site that a couple others with darker colored sectionals had the same problem. Now where the alcohol was sprayed and scrubbed, it feels all rough...so I think I am going to try to use a steamer on it...any other advice...besides telling me to eat at the table:)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your instruction about Cleaning Microfiber Sofa .
ReplyDeletewilson roy
carpet cleaning
Omg I had amazing results with this!!!!! I've had my couch for 6 years+ and it's been stole moved 6 times, and recently a friends kid puked all over it and of course regular wear. I've cleaned it a ton but I have also had water marks on it. This technique cured it all! It looks brand new! I'm a little clean freak and I couldn't be happier, even if my roommates give me a hard for being a crazy clean freak they really like how the sofa turned out! Thank you thank you!
ReplyDeleteHelp! I had water rings and stains on my tan microfiber couch and I tried this rubbing alcohol method. I didnt have a spray bottle so I sort of drizzled the rubbing alcohol in areas where there were stains. I rubbed with a white cloth and lots of dirt came off. But… when it dried and I tried rubbing the area with a scrub brush, it did nothing to "revive the fabric". The alcohol left “water ring” type stains EVERYWHERE that I drizzled it. Now i have a tan couch with a bunch of light tan spots! Are those just clean spots because that's where I poured the alcohol and it didnt spread enough? Do I need to go back and completely saturate the entire cushion and rescrub… will that do the trick?? Or did I just ruin my couch :( ?
ReplyDeleteI think it's important to spritz it on so that the microfiber doesn't get too wet. Maybe try again, this time with a spray bottle, and hope for the best? Good luck!
DeleteKelly, I have the same sofa and my two dogs love to lick their paws and they leave rings on my sofa also. I have try cleaning and when I do I see rings where I clean. I will try this new method. I cannot see myself give my sofa my volka but he can have the rubbing alcohol. Please I hope this work.
ReplyDeleteThe UKs best reclining, swivel and electric chair retailer. FREE next day delivery on all orders and the best price guaranteed, power recliner chairs.
ReplyDeleteIt would be a sensible opinion to hire the best central west carpet cleaner at Pretoria, as they are professionally trained, and they hold mastery in removing all sorts of stains, without causing any damage to the expensive yarn.
ReplyDeleteI have a microfiber couch that has that soft suede like material. My cat has decided to make it her second bathroom. I've read many articles on cleaning these couches and have tried but it's ruining the soft material. Any suggestions?!?!?! Or will I have to hire someone to professional steam clean it.
ReplyDeleteI works but the smell is overwhelming.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I have been using natural cleaning products sect as vinegar, baking soda and lemons, for cleaning for many years and i have always encouraged my friends and family to do so. Vinegar is my favorite, because, as explained above, it can clean almost everything.
ReplyDeleteCarpet Cleaning